Exercise apparatus



Aug. 27, 1963 J. CENCIG EXERCISE APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1961 IHHH INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,101,944 EXERCISE APPARATUS John Cencig, 706 S. Claremont Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,888 8 Claims. (Cl. 27279) This invention relates to athletic devices and in particular to an exercise apparatus.

One extremely :eificacious arm strengthening exercise is the conventional push-up exercise wherein the person extends himself in a generally prone position and raises and lowers his torso relative to the iloor by means of iiexing his arms while pressing his hands against the floor. The present invention is concerned with a new and improved exercise apparatus in the use of which the user raises and lowers his torso, as in the push-up exercise, but requiring the use of a substantially increased number of body muscles providing an improved over-all exercise of the users body.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved exercise apparatus.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of such an exercise apparatus including a reaction member having a generally flat surface portion, and a slide member having a generally flat slide surface portion and handle means for birnanual urging of the slide member on the reaction member with the surface portions in frictional facial engagement.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of such an exercise apparatus wherein the reaction member is arranged for facilitated selective disposition in an extended exercising arrangement and in a folded storage arrangement. 7

Still another feature of the invention is theprovision of such an exercise apparatus wherein the handle means is arranged for facilitated selective grasping with the hands spaced apart at a selected distance of a substantial range thereof.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such an exercise apparatus which is extremely simple and economical of construction while providing long trouble-free life.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus embodying the invention, with a person utilizing the apparatus shown in full lines in a start position, and in dotted lines in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus in a folded arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the exercise apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section thereof taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective 'view of the slide member.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, an exercise apparatus generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a reaction member generally designated 11 and a slide member generally designated 12. A person P utilizing the exercise apparatus 10 grasps the slide member while kneeling on one end of the reaction member and slowly slides the slide member over the reaction member to a fully extended position wherein his torso is juxtaposed to the reaction member, and then returns to the start position. In thus using the exercise apparatus 10', the person P must exert a su stantial effort in raising and lowering his torso and in overcoming the frictional resistance of the slide member to movement on the reaction member. In performing this simple exercise, the person utilizes a substantial number of his body muscles including the back, chest, stomach, shoulder and arm muscles, improving the tone thereof and substantiallystrenfihening the support of the internal organs. 1

In the illustrated embodiment, the reaction member 11 comprises an articulated bipartite member including a pair of flat panels 13 and 14 defining fiat surface portions 13:: and 14a: and connected by a hinge structure 15 for selective disposition in an end-to-end extended relationship as shown in FIG. 1, and in a 'back-to back folded relationship as shown in FIG. 2. In the extended arrangement, the exercise apparatus is suitable for use by substantially all persons including fulhgrown men, the respective panels '13 and 14 being illustratively 3 feet long by 20 inches wide. Alternatively, when the panels are arranged in the folded relationship of FIG. 2, the compact arrangement of the exercise apparatus permits facilitated storage as in a small closet space. Thus, the exercise apparatus is adapted for use by persons such as businessmen in their otfices, as well as by persons at their homes or in athletic clubs.

The construction of exercise apparatus 10 is extremely simple. Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 36, panels 13 and 1-4- may be seen to comprise flat sheets of sturdy, wear-resistant material such as resin-impregnated plywood. Panel 13 is provided with a depending supporting framework generally designated 16 defined by a pair of side supports 17, an end support 18, and a pair of closely spaced middle supports 19. Panel 14 is provided with a pair of side supports 29 and a middle support 21, side supports 29 being arranged to be inwardly juxtaposed to side supports 17 of panel 13 and support 21 being arranged to fit between spaced middle supports 19 of panel 13 when the exercise apparatus is in the folded arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 6. The panels may be secured to the supports by any suitable means, such as screws 22 as shown in FIG. 5.

The juxtaposed ends 23 of the supports 17, 19, 20* and 21 overlap, as best seen in FIG. 4, and may be rounded as shown in FIG. -6. Hinge structure 13 comprises herein a metal rod 24 extending loosely through the end portions 23 and retained against longitudinal movement relative to the end portions by suitable means such as washers 2'5 spot-welded to the rod 24.

A kneeling pad 26 may be secured to the panel 13 at the free end 27 thereof. Thus, the pad is located at the area of maximum support, i.e., the area supported by the pair of side supports 17, the pair of middle supports 19', and the end support 18.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the slide member 12 herein comprises a generally flat slide surface portion 28, and a handle poution 2% arranged for bimanual grasping by the person P for urging-of the slide member. on the reaction member with the confronting surfaces thereof in frictional facial engagement. Herein, the slide member 12 is formed of wood. As best seen in FIG. 7, the handle 29 is substantially elongated, permitting the user to grasp the same with the hands selectively spaced apart at any one of a substantial number of distances. Thus, the user may grasp the handle in a manner most comfortable to him, facilitating the use of the exercise apparatus.

Thus, exercise apparatus 10' comprises an extremely simple and economical apparatus providing an improved exercising of the users body muscles. The apparatus may be constructed at relatively low cost while yet it provides muscular exercise substantially superior to the exercise obtained with conventional exercising devices which are substantially more costly and space consuming. Repetitive use of the apparatus beneficially conditions the u-sers body, providing improved physical fitness and increasing the users agility. As indicated briefly above, apparatus is adapted for facilitated storage when not in use while yet it may be arranged for use in a matter of seconds.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Exercise apparatus comprising: a portable reaction member having a generally flat surface portion; and a slide member having a generally flat slide surface portion and handle means for movement of said slide member against said reaction member by a bimanual urging of said slide member on said reaction member with said surface portions in frictional facial engagement, said surface portions being arranged to preclude substantial abrasion of either thereof as a result of such movement.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said surface portions are ligneous.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said surface portions are ligneous and at least one of said surface portions is resin-impregnated.

4. Exercise apparatus comprising: an articulated bipartite reaction member having contiguous, aligned generally flat slide surface portions; and a slide member having a generally fiat slide surface portion and handle means for bimanual urging of said slide member on said reaction member with said slide surface portion of said slide member in frictional facial engagement selectively with said slide surface portions of the reaction member.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4 wherein said reaction member includes a pair of flat panels and hinge means connecting juxtaposed ends of said panels for selectively disposing said panels in an end-to-end extended relationship and in a back-to-back folded relationship.

6. The exercise device of claim 4 wherein said reaction member includes a pair of flat panels and hinge means connecting juxtaposed ends of said panels for selectively disposing said panels in an end-to-end extended relationship and in a back-to-back folded relationship, and support means fixedly secured to said panels for supporting said panels horizontally above a floor, said support means interfitting when said panels are in the folded relationship.

7. Exercise apparatus comprising: a portable reaction member having a generally flat surface portion; and a slide member having a generally fiat slide surface portion and handle means for movement of said slide member against said reaction member by a bimanual urging of said slide member on said reaction member with said surface portions in frictional facial engagement, said surface portions being arranged to preclude substantial abrasion of either thereof as a result of such movement, said handle means being elongated for grasping with the hands selectively spaced apart at any one of a substantial number of distances.

8. Exercise apparatus comprising: mean-s providing a substantially horizontal first slide surface; and a slide member having a second slide surf-ace for frictional movable engagement with said first slide surface, said slide surfaces having preselected coefficients of friction permitting movement therebetween by a person grasping said member while kneeling on said first surface and moving said member selectively toward and away from himself, said movement requiring a substantial force whereby the person substantially exercises a large number of muscles including back, chest, stomach, shoulder and arm muscles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 139,383 Goodsell May 27, 1873 695,538 De Clairmont Mar. 18, 1902 1,134,100 Breckenridge Apr. 6, 1915 1,193,876 Comey Aug. 8, 1916 1,581,235 Sorel Apr. 20, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,346 Switzerland July 1, 1937 

8. EXERCISE APPARATUS COMPRISING; MEANS PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FIRST SLIDE SURFACE; AND A SLIDE MEMBER HAVING A SECOND SLIDE SURFACE FOR FRICTIONAL MOVABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST SLIDE SURFACE, SAID SLIDE SURFACES HAVING PRESELECTED COEFFICIENTS OF FRICTION PERMITTING MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN BY A PERSON GRASPING SAID MEMBER WHILE KNEELING ON SAID FIRST SURFACE AND MOVING SAID MEMBER SELECTIVELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM HIMSELF, SAID MOVEMENT REQUIRING A SUBSTANTIAL FORCE WHEREBY THE PERSON SUBSTANTIALLY EXERCISES A LARGE NUMBER OF MUSCLES INCLUDING BACK,CHEST,STOMACH,SHOULDER AND ARM MUSCLES. 